I had a good laugh

I was looking through photographs this morning, and I noticed something that made me laugh. I was really clean cut when I left! I have changed in so many ways since I left Mystic in May 2003. Sure my hair is longer, my skin is darker and I’m about twenty pounds lighter. But I’m so much happier!

Being back home (aboard Namaste) after a five month stint in the states really put things in perspective for me. I know this is where I belong, traveling, making new friends, and sharing my experiences with all of you. I can’t live in the matrix any more, freedom is far too sweet.

So many of you send me emails asking about the reality & dangers of cruising, ten times out of ten, I’ll tell you the same thing, DO IT! Kids love cruising, and speeding down the freeway at eighty miles an hour if far more dangerous then anything you’ll find out here. It’s so easy for us to make excuses about why we can’t do it. But if you spent one day doing it, you’ll ask yourself “what the hell took me so long”.

I know you might not believe this but cruising has made me a better man. I’ve learned patients; I’ve learned how to accept other people’s differences and cultures. I’ve become good at making friends and helping others without expecting something in return. I’ve learned not to be consumed with money and I’ve learned what financial success is. My friend john on “Little Wing” defined financial success for me. “Being financially successful is simply having more money coming in then you desire to spend”. Isn’t that true, at what point do we decide to quit working and spend time living. I don’t conceder what I do work, and I’m not financially successful yet, but I’m close. If I’m able to sell twenty-five or thirty DVD’s a month that would do it for me, I would conceder myself financially successful.  All I need is eight or nine hundred dollars a month. I know cruisers who make jewelry and sell it in the ports that they visit. They manage to spend less money then they make and they are happy, isn’t that success? Something to think about, remember we have new years resolutions to make in a week. I know a lot of you already have boats and are just battling with making a date and casting off the dock lines. Happy New Year everyone.